Pumping system



April 6 192 6.

I D. H. HUNTER PUMPING SYSTEM Filed July 25, 1919 Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

- UNITED STATES DAVID E. HUNTER, or SAN ANTONIO, 'rnxas, assrenon TO ATE OFFICE. f

SULLIVAN macninnmr COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

rvnrxn e srs'rnn. I,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DA ID I acitizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county ofBeXar and State of Texas, have invented certain new 1 or the like wherein diiiiculty is experienced in starting the flow of the pumped fluidl More particularly, my invention has 'for its object to provide an improved pumping system whereby a'high pressure may be con-' veniently obtained whenever desired, as

when starting theiflow from a well, and

whereby thereafter, as after the flow has been started, the system is inaintained at a lower pressure in an improved manner by part of the pumping means, the construc% tion being such that while a high pressure is capable of being suppliedwvhenever necessary, the system is normally operated at an economical low pressure. Theseand other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. s 1

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment whichmy invention may assume in practice, illustrating the same-as applied to use as a well pump adapted to operate, for example on oilywells, which are notoriously hard to start. v p

In this illustrative construction I have shown a pump ngsystem including a plu- V ralityof compressing units '1 and 2 operatively. connected in an improved-manner hereinafter described, and, as likewise hereinatter described, adapted to cooperateto supply a high initial starting pressure to'an air lift pump 3'. disposed in'a well casing 4: and discharging nto a discharge line 5,

ficient to maintain the well flow. Ini this construction it will further be observe'd that the unit 1, while it may assumeother forms, is illustrated as a -mult i-'stage compressor having a low ressure cylinder: '6 I and a'jhi'gh ressure cylinder 't th low'pfesurecylinder lower running *pressure' sut- Application iiled July 25; 1919. Serial 1T0. 313,193.

' receiving air from the usual intake 8 and H. HUNTER, I

discharging, the same into an "intercooler 9,

which in turn discharges into the high pressure cylinder 7 discharging into a discharge line 10 leading to a receiver 11. Opera tively' connected to this receiver, herein through piping '12, 13, is the compressor unit 2.- While this unit 2 may likewise as i sume various .forms," it is shown herein in the form of a relatively small single stage compressor. having a single cylinder 14 receiving the air through the pipe 13 as an inlet and discharging the same through a pipe 15 to a down pipe 16 leading to the air liftzpump 3. It will also be observed that I have provided a supplementary pipe 7 connection 17 extending between the receiver and the pump, herein between the pipe 12 and the upper endof the pipe 16, and that I have rovided im n'oved controllin mechanism in the several pipe connections, the same hereinincludnig a check valve 18 in the p pe connection 17 and a check valve '19 in the pipe connection 15 and throttle valves 20, 21,:and 22 in the pipe c0nnections' 13,'15, and 17, respectively.

Inthe operation of my improved construction it will'beobserved that when it is desired'to start the well it is possible to obtain: 'ahigh pressure by connecting the compressor units in multi-stage relation. More particularly, it, will be observed that by opening the pipe connections 13 and 15 and closing the connection 17 the two compressors when started will be caused to operate as a three-stage installation, the air entering through the intake 8 of the unit 1" being compressed thereby through two stages, delivered to the receiver, and from the'receiver through the pipe 12 and the pipe connection 13 to the cylinder 14 ofthe compressor unit 2Ewhere it is compressed through another stage and delivered through i th'e 'pipe' connection '15 and the down pipe 16," to. theair lift pump 3. Obviously, this pressure may be maintained as long as necessary,but in well pumping, I find that a continuous"; high pressure. flow is not required for; aperiod longer than the startingperiod, during-which the head is blown off ofthe Well and the "normal fiow otthe latter started."v When this occurs, by simply opening the connection 17 and closing the valve? 20 to ,cutiofi the intake to the'compressorgunitf2, the latter may be shut down, i

CJI

while yet leaving a pressure flow from the compressor unit 1 through the pipe connections 12, 17, and 16 to the air lift pump which I have found is sufficient to maintain the desired normal flow from the well. Thus it will be observed that the system may be started with the needed high pressure and thereafter operated economically at the lower pressure developed by the compressor unit 1, herein a multi-stage unit, as soon as the flow from the well is started.

Py the use of 1y improved system, it is possible to start any well which it has heretofore been considered necessary to operate by pumping mechanismcontinuously supplying thereto a very high pressure, and, instead of continuously supplying said high pressure thereto after the same has been started, operate it at a lower pressure, thereby materially decreasing the cost of ,the pumping operations. More specifically, with my improved construction it has been found possible to supply a starting pressure of approximately five hundred pounds whenever desired, and after the well has been started continue the normal pumping operation therein at a pressure of one hundred pounds. Further, it 'ill be observed that in my improved construction it possible thus to start and operate a )umpmg system without the necessity for providing expensive pumps special construction supplying abnormal pressure and having only a limited field of use, my improyed system instead making it possible to utilize different units each of which is of standard construction and adapted whenever desired to use in other normal and usual relations without changes therein. It will also be noted that the cooperating auxiliary or starting unit is relatively small and adapted to be supplied and connected with its fellow at small expense.

lVhile l have in this application SPGClfically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

ll liat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ii:

1. An air lift pumpingsystem including pumping means and a compressing mechanism comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged to compress air serially, and means for discharging air from. different ones of said series to said pumping means to discharge excess and normal heads, said pumping means being disposed so as to always discharge below the natural liquid level sumed during pumping.

2. A air lift pumping system including pumping means, fluid pressure means comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in multi-stage relation, receivers therebetween, and a single means for conducting said fluid from different stages to said pumping means to discharge excess and normal heads, said pumping means being always completely disposed below the natural liquid level which is attained during pumping.

In a pumping system, a pumping device, the operation of which is the same at all times during pumping, a plurality of compressor mechanisms connected in multistage relation to said pumping device to discharge an excess head, and means for rendering one ineffective and continuing the operation of the other to discharge a normal head.

In a pumping system, a pumping device the operation of which is the sameat all times during pumping, a plurality of con'ipressor mechanisms connected in multistage relation to said pumping device to discharge an excess head, and means for rendering the higher stage mechanism inefi ec tive and continuing the operation of the other to discharge a normal head.

5. In a pumping system, a pumping device, a plurality of compressor mechanisms connected in multistage relation to said pumping device to discharge an excess head, and means for by-passing the higher stage mechanism and continuing the operation of the other to discharge a normal head, said pumping device being completely positioned below the natural liquid level which is obtained during pumping.

6. In a pumping system, air lift pumping m ans, a plurality of cooperating compressor mechanisms discharging thereto for discharging an excess head, and means for cutting out one of said mechanisms at will while continuing the operation of the other to discharge a normal head.

7. In a pumping system, an air lift pump adapted to discharge at substantially a single level, a plurality of cooperating compressor mechanisms connected in multistage relation and discharging thereto to discharge an excess head, and means for cutting out one of said mechanisms at will while continuing the operation of the other to discharge a normal head.

8. In a pumping system, an air lift well pump adapted to completely operate below the well level assumed during normal pumping, a starting and running compressor connected in multi-stage relation for discharging an excess head, and means for rendering said starting compressor ineffective after the well flow is started to discharge a normal head.

9. In a pumping system, an air lift well pump, a starting compressor and a running compressor connected in multistage role tion for initiating discharge from the well, and mean for icy-passing said starting compressor after thewell flow is started.

' 10. In a pumping system, an air lift pump discharging from a single level, a plurality of compressor mechanisms connected in multi-stage relation for initiating discharge from the well, and means for cutting outonly the higher stage mechanism of said mechanisms after the pump 18 started to discharge a normal head.

11. In a pumping system, an air 11ft pump adapted to be completely operative during pumping and to have air supplied thereto through a single supply means, a multistage compressor, a recelver connected .thereto,'a"

cooperating compressor connected between said receiver and said pump for increasing the supply pressure to dischargean excess head, and a supplemental connection be tween said pump and said receiver.

12. In a pumping system, an' airlift pump, a plurality of cooperating compressor excess head and then a normal head from said level.

In a pumping system, an air lift pump adapted to discharge at only a single level, and means for discharging first an excess head and then a normal head from said level and adapted to utilize full pressure at the source of the air supply during discharge of either head.

15. In a pumping system, an air' lift pump adapted to discharge at only a single level, and a plurality of means for supplying fluid thereto for discharging first all excess head and then a normal head, said means for discharging the excess'head beingv means, a plurality'of compressor cylinders andpistons therein one of which is adapted to generate supply fluid suflicient to disinoperative during operation of the other means.

16. In a pumping system, for pumping a varying submergence pump adapted to have the same mode of operation during pumping action, a plurality of cooperating compressor mechanisms connected in multi-stage relation, a valvedconnection between the higher stage 'mechanism and lsaidpump, a valved con-- nection between said compressors, and a supplementary valved by-pass disposedaround said higher stage mechanism. 2

17. In a pumping system for pumping a varying submergence' head, an air lift pump a'plurality of cooperating compressor head, an air lift mechanisms connected in multi-stage relation, a valved connection including a check valve between the higher stage mechanism and said pump, avalved connection between said compressors, and a supplementary valved by-pass including a che ck disposed around said said higher stage mechanism.

18. An air lift system having a discharge pump disposed at substantially a single level, compressor mechanism adapted when normally operative to discharge a head from said level, and means whereby said mechanism can discharge another head from said level which is too great to be discharged by the normal operation of said compressor.

19. An air lift system having a discharge pump at substantlally a singlelevel, compressor mechanism whose maximum capacity'is such as to generate sufiicie-ntsupply V fluid under suflicient pressure to discharge a normal head, and means whereby the pressure of the supply fluid is adapted to be increased beyond said capacity to discharge an excess head. I 5

20. In a pumping system, air lift pumping means, a compressor whose maximum capacity is insuificientto pump an excess head ut adapted to pump a normal head, and a second compressor adapted to pump an excess head. I

21. In apumping system, air lift pumping means, and operating means therefor including a compressor whose maximum capacity 'isinsuflicient to pump an excess head con tinuously but adapted to pump a normal head continuously, and a second compressor adapted to pump continuously an excess head.

22. In a pumpmgsystem, airlift pumping meanshaving continuously open discharge ports having a'flfixed relation to the well withinwhich it is disposed, a compressor for discharging an excesshead, and a compressor for discharging a normal head but Whose maximum capacity is insufficient to pump said excess head.

23. In a pumping system, air lift pumping charge a normal head but whose maximum capacity isinsuflicient to discharge an excess head, the second of said cylinders being adapted to generate a sufficient pressure to discharge said excess head.

24. In an air lift pumping system having pumping means adapted to discharge an excess and normal head from a single level, and a 'pluralitygof means for effecting the air supply and adapted to allow discharge .of a normal and excess head.

In testimony whereof I afiix myv signature.

DAVID H. HUNTER.

Certificate of Correction.

It is herebv certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,579,616. granted April 6, 1926, upon the application of David H. Hunter, of San Antonio, Texas. for an improvement in Pumping Systems, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 45, claim 15, for the Word all read an; line 50, claim 16, after the Word system strike out the comma, and line 69, claim 17 after the Word check insert the Word valve; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 1926. [SEAL] WM. A. KINNAN,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

